One year after the general introduction of City 30, the balance sheet 30 in the Brussels region, Brussels Mobility is taking stock. Dying is positive. The number of road deaths and serious injuries decreased and there was less noise pollution. “The zone turns 30.”

The speed specifications in the region, and that on all types of roads. That makes sense in areas that go from 50 to 30 kilometers per hour, of course. After all, not everyone adheres to the speed limit. But the percentage of offenders from 104 to 8 percent, that there are now many more streets with a speed regime of 30 km/h.

In addition, people drive slower on streets with a speed limit of 50 or 70 km/h. “The zone 30 generally slows down traffic. There is now another one, one where the City starts at 30,” says Inge Paemen of Brussels Mobility. FYI: the presence or absence of corona was taken into account, so that periods with similar traffic were connected.

To “continue to encourage” motorists to comply with the speed limits, 28 new speed cameras are expected by early February. A new section control on Gentsesteenweg and 50 radars should further reduce the risk of accidents in sensitive areas.

From 11 to 5

Because that is the main objective of the City 30: fewer road casualties. That is to be realized from, because the number of deaths from 11 in 2020 to 5 in 2021, however also a year with lockdowns and therefore less traffic. FYI: the first nine months were linked together.

From 140 in 2017 to 100 in 2021.

The results are a boost for competent minister Elke Van den Brandt (Groen). “With the number of fatalities halved, we are on track for Vision Zero. But the work is not finished. We continue to adapt and develop the infrastructure in speed control. Our goal remains zero deaths and serious injuries in Brussels traffic.”

In addition, the general zone 30 also provides gains in the field of noise pollution. The switch from 50 to 30 km/h of road traffic noise in cases by more than half. Brussels Environment has established that the noise level increases by 1.5 to 4 dB(A), depending on the period, the type of deck and traffic.

The biggest differences occur at night, on Waversesteenweg in Auderghem and on Havenlaan in Brussels-City. More surprising is comparable to the Keizer Karellaan in Ganshoren, a busy traffic axis where the maximum speed is maintained. According to Brussels Mobility gain of this street from the reduction in speed in the movements.